High thermal performance cathode via heat pipes

Abstract

An x-ray tube for emitting x-rays which includes an anode and a cathode is disclosed herein. The x-ray tube includes a housing, an anode disposed in the housing and including a target, a cathode disposed in the housing at a distance from the anode, and a heat pipe thermally coupled to the cathode and extending away from the electron emitter. The cathode includes an electron emitter which is configured to emit electrons which hit the target of the anode and produce x-rays. The heat pipe provides transfer of thermal energy away from the electron emitter and into a heat sink.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An x-ray tube for emitting x-rays which includes an anode and a cathode, the x-ray tube comprising: 
       a housing;  
       an anode disposed in the housing and including a target;  
       a cathode disposed in the housing at a distance from the anode, the cathode includes an electron emitter configured to emit electrons which hit the target of the anode and produce x-rays; and  
       a heat pipe thermally coupled to the cathode and extending away from the electron emitter, the heat pipe providing transfer of thermal energy away from the electron emitter.  
     
     
       2. The x-ray tube of claim  1 , wherein the heat pipe comprises an evacuated sealed metal pipe partially filled with a fluid. 
     
     
       3. The x-ray tube of claim  2 , wherein the heat pipe includes internal walls having a capillary wick structure, the capillary wick structure providing for the transfer of fluid from one end of the heat pipe to another end irregardless of gravity. 
     
     
       4. The x-ray tube of claim  2 , wherein the fluid partially filling the evacuated sealed metal pipe comprises water. 
     
     
       5. The x-ray tube of claim  1 , wherein the heat pipe comprises a fin structure at an end of the heat pipe distal to the electron emitter. 
     
     
       6. The x-ray tube of claim  1 , wherein the target rotates. 
     
     
       7. The x-ray tube of claim  1 , wherein the cathode further comprises a cathode cup containing electron emitting filaments and a cathode insulator coupled to the cathode cup by a connecting structure. 
     
     
       8. The x-ray tube of claim  7 , wherein the heat pipe includes an evaporator end and a condenser end, the evaporator end located on one end of the connecting structure and the condenser end located at the cathode insulator. 
     
     
       9. The x-ray tube of claim  7 , wherein the connecting structure includes an arm and a post, the arm extending from the cathode cup to the post, the post extending to the cathode insulator. 
     
     
       10. The x-ray tube of claim  9 , wherein the heat pipe extends from the post to the cathode insulator. 
     
     
       11. The x-ray tube of claim  9 , further comprising a second heat pipe extending from the cathode cup to the post along the arm. 
     
     
       12. An x-ray tube for emitting x-rays with increased performance by effective heat dissipation, the x-ray tube comprising: 
       an electron source, the electron source emitting electrons;  
       an x-ray source, the x-ray source providing x-rays from a bombardment of electrons from the electron source; and  
       heat pipe means for selectively directing heat energy away from the electron source.  
     
     
       13. The x-ray tube of claim  12 , wherein the heat pipe means for selectively directing heat energy away from the electron source transfers thermal energy away from the electron source independent of gravitational forces. 
     
     
       14. The x-ray tube of claim  12 , wherein the heat pipe means for selectively directing heat energy away from the electron source also provides an electrical path for the electron source. 
     
     
       15. The x-ray tube of claim  12 , wherein the target rotates. 
     
     
       16. A method for dissipating heat from a cathode in an x-ray tube during operation of the x-ray tube, the method comprising: 
       providing electrons using an electron emitter in the cathode, the electrons producing x-rays and heat upon impact with a target; and  
       transferring heat away from the electron emitter with at least one heat pipe.  
     
     
       17. The method of claim  16 , wherein the at least one heat pipe comprises an evacuated sealed metal pipe partially filled with fluid and the transferring heat away from the electron emitter step further comprises vaporizing the fluid at an evaporator end of the at least one heat pipe and liquefying the vaporized fluid at a condenser end of the at least one heat pipe. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim  17 , wherein the fluid is water. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim  16 , wherein the at least one heat pipe extends any one of through an insulator and not through the insulator. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim  16  further comprising providing an electrical path for the cathode.